Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

FENDER WHEEL ARCH CHALLENGE:

FENDER WHEEL ARCH

The Wheel Arch is the semi-circular part of the fender positioned above the wheel of the vehicle. The design of the wheel arch of the fender should be such that it must shield the wheels and protect both the passenger compartment and pedestrians from the projection of water, mud, and stones. 

The wheel arch area of the fender is usually designed as a cover or shield over the tire along its perimeter to stop any debris or stones, dirt, sand, snow, etc., from getting thrown into the vehicle or the BIW area as well as outside the vehicle and onto other vehicles or pedestrians on the road. 

For the vehicle to have its permit in different countries, the wheel arch of the fenders must be compliant with the standards and regulations set by respective countries.

1. Japan Regulation Requirement
2. US Regulation requirement
3. European Regulation Requirement

1. Japan Regulation Requirement:

• Measure clearance L of the tire, hub, cap, and fender in three different positions within area K and produce a clearance check chart to validate.
• Clearance must be greater than 5mm in all three positions.
• Wheel guard requirement: The value of 'a' shall be more than 5mm at a line 30 degrees forward and 50 degrees rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

2. US Regulation Requirement:

• Make clearance check details on all positions from -100 degrees to 100 degrees and make the clearance check table.
  
• All values should be greater than 5mm to satisfy the regulations.
• The value of 'a' shall be more than 5mm at a line 30 degrees forward and 50 degrees rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel

3. European Regulation Requirement:

Measure CL L at sections SA-SA SB-SB SC-SC SD-SD SE-SE and produce CL check chart to validate

• At all five sections, the CL L value should be greater than 10mm to satisfy European regulations.
• Wheel guard requirement: The value of 'a' shall be more than 5mm at a line 30 degrees forward and 50 degrees rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

The European regulations require a pre-determined clearance or a minimum distance of 10mm to be maintained between the fender and respective tire at particular points, along the tire profile as shown below:

STEPS FOLLOWED IN CREATING THE SKETCH REQUIREMENT FOR EUROPEAN STANDARDS

• A Horizontal and vertical axis is drawn from the center of the wheel.
• The vertical axis intersection point is labeled as A.
• Similar references are drawn at 30 degrees to the left and 50 degrees to the right and named B and C respectively.
• A line of 150mm is drawn perpendicular to the horizontal axis and normal from the normal point on the fender which gives point E.
• The midpoint of the arc cut by sections C and E results in a new section D.
• The value of 'L' at each section and the value of a 'is found to determine whether the fender satisfies the European standards as shown below.

Value of "L" in section "B":

L= 10 mm; Pass.

Value of "L" in section "A":

L= 9.9490 mm; Failed.

Value of "L" in section "C":

L= -0.1139 mm; Failed.

Value of "L" in section "D":

L= -2.8875 mm; Failed

Value of "L" in section "E":

L=-5.9973 mm; Failed.

Observation table:

From Fender to	Distance	Result
SA	9.9490 mm	Failed
SB	10 mm	Pass
SC	-0.1139	Failed
SD	-2.8875	Failed
SE	-5.9973	Failed

Conclusion:

The values in the C, D, and E sections are negative. 

The Fender failed as the values didn't satisfy European standards.